Background: Ovarian cancer has become the commonest pelvic cancer all over the world. Because of its late detection it has a poor survival rate. Hence it is important to understand the clinicopathologic profile of this malignancy so that it will help in the early identification of the disease, histological typeand possible outcome.

Methods: This study was undertaken in SAT Hospital, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, for a period of one year. Women referred with a provisional diagnosis of ovarian tumour were recruited. Clinical features and investigation details were collected by a structured proforma. FIGO Staging was done after staging laparotomy and histological diagnosis was made.

Results: 58% of the ovarian tumours were primary in origin. 90% of the primary malignant tumours were surface epithelial tumours, of which 50% were serous cystadenocarcinomas and 30 % mucinous cystadenocarcinomas. Two thirds of patients with primary ovarian malignancy presented in late stages ie. Stage III or IV. Early presentation (stage 1 a) was seen in 28% of patients, majority of them were germ cell tumours. Ultrasound was able to detect evidence of malignancy in 100% of cases. CA 125 was elevated in all patients with surface epithelial tumours.

Conclusion: Majority of ovarian tumours were primary, of which 90% were surface epithelial tumours. Two thirds of patients presented in late stages. Ultrasound imaging along with tumour markers is a highly sensitive tool in the detection of ovarian malignancy preoperatively.

Keywords: ovarian malignancy, primary, histological types.

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Anjali Devi. B

Associate Professor, Dept of O&G, SAT Hospital,

GMC, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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